Vincent Inglima battles through two Foothill defenders, Eddie Thompson, left, and Michael Williams, while driving the lane midway through the second quarter. Photo by Brian Corley
RENO -- So far this season, Vince Inglima has carried the Carson High boys basketball team. There's no denying that. But if the Senators want the Sierra League title, at some point this season someone else will have to. Coach Bruce Barnes thinks he's found a worthy replacement.
With Inglima watching from the bench after fouling out, Ryan Buttner scored seven of his 16 points in the two overtime periods as Carson edged Foothill (Calif.), 62-61 on Thursday night in the first round of the Nevprep.com Classic at McQueen High.
"I would of much rather of played him (Inglima), but it also made other players do some things," Barnes said. "It's good for others to make plays when they're put in unfamiliar roles."
Buttner sure didn't mind. He's just glad he was relied upon late in the game because it took the 6-foot-4 guard a little time to find his shooting touch.
"I knew I was missing my shots early, but I have to keep shooting," Buttner said. "I knew as soon as Vince went out that the pressure would be on me. But I wish I could've made that last shot."
Buttner's referring to the last play of the first overtime. Tied 55-55, Buttner missed a wide-open shot, which sent the game into a second overtime.
"Buttner will make that shot 95 percent of the time," Barnes said. "I was just happy we executed and got the shot we wanted."
Not a problem. After Buttner's jumper made it 57-55 early in the second OT, Adam McKenzie stepped up, scoring Carson's last five points to seal the victory. McKenzie finished with seven points.
The Mustangs, though, threatened to break the game open in the third quarter. Cameron Fewell's basket with 4:23 left in the third put Foothill up 37-31, the biggest lead of the game for either team. The Senators' Ed Jaquette countered with a 3-pointer and Inglima and McKenzie both scored field goals as Carson pulled within one point going into the fourth quarter, 39-38.
"We collapsed a little bit (in the third quarter), but I knew we'd get started again," Buttner said.
Inglima's 3-pointer at the beginning of the fourth put the Senators up 41-40, their first lead since the second quarter, when it was 25-23. Buttner hit another trey later on and his basket with 2:51 left in regulation gave Carson a 50-47 lead. Foothill tied it at 50 and Inglima was given a chance to win the game. But with time running out, Inglima was called for charging, his fifth foul, which forced overtime.
Inglima scored a game-high 25 points, including three 3-pointers. Buttner only scored four points in the first half, but it wasn't from lack of trying. He just couldn't knock down his shots.
"He can shoot as many times as he wants," Barnes said of Buttner, Carson's streakiest outside shooter. "With shooters, you just got to let them keep shooting until they start making' em."
Foothill was led by Shawn Birkley, who finished with 14 points.
The Senators will play Reed/Reedley, which beat Reed/Reedley yesterday, in a second round game today at 5 p.m. at McQueen.
In other first round action, Elko beat Incline 75-35, South San Francisco beat Woodlake 43, Reno beat Bear River 60-43, and McQueen beat North Valleys xx-xx.
